One of two manatees released into the Caribbean in August under a pioneering repopulation scheme has died of a suspected kidney infection, the Guadeloupe National Park announced Monday.
Junior was one of two Singapore-born male manatees or sea cows flown half-way around the world in the effort to restore West Indian populations of the slow-moving herbivores.
Confirming the animal's death, Guadeloupe National Park director Maurice Anselme said tissue samples would be analysed to determine the cause of death.
During a check-up Friday, veterinarians noticed that Junior had "lost a lot of weight," with blood tests showing he had suffered kidney failure, the park said in a statement.
Urgent treatment failed to save the mammal, which was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon, the park added.